# Fire out of darkness **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** landscape\ **Created:** [October 2, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746 "2022-10-02T18:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DeanRoyer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/deanroyer/32/33767_2.png) [@DeanRoyer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/DeanRoyer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/1 "2022-10-02T18:37:13Z")
![Fire out of darkness](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/0/8/08de6a00ff32fbceb4a1077ce6c65a8ab8053e6c.jpeg) I went out to my local park yesterday. While wandering around I was struck by this bare tree surrounded by other trees with bright yellow and red foliage. It was the middle of the day so the light was strong and contrasty. I decided to process the image to emphasize the contrast and impart a feeling of the light and energy emerging from darkness and languor. ### Specific Feedback Requested Did I go too far with the tonal contrast (and by extension saturation)? I want this to look realistic but the intent is not to document reality (whatever that means) but to convey my experience/feelings. ### Technical Details ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_Murphy](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@Ronald\_Murphy](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ronald_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/2 "2022-10-03T13:30:23Z")
The colors and tones look good to me. I might crop to put the bright yellow center more centered in the frame. Is the vignette natural? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Bostock](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_bostock/32/34921_2.png) [@David\_Bostock](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Bostock)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/3 "2022-10-03T13:54:12Z")
Dean, this is a nice find. I like the monochromatic feeling of the tree/branches contrasted with the yellow leaves in the background. Colors and saturation look fine to me. Very fun image. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/4 "2022-10-03T21:46:52Z")
Looks great to me, and I am NOT a fan of high contrast, FWIW. Interesting find and composition! ---
**Author:** ![DeanRoyer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/deanroyer/32/33767_2.png) [@DeanRoyer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/DeanRoyer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/5 "2022-10-04T02:19:05Z")
Thank you @Ronald_Murphy, @David_Bostock, and @Diane_Miller. To answer @Ronald_Murphy’s question, the yellow leaves near the center of the frame and where the light was hitting the bare tree were the brightest part of the scene. I emphasized the tonal contrast even more by globally reducing the exposure level and then bringing back the highlights (painting through a luminosity mask) but not around the edges–one way that I create vignettes. ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 5:36am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/6 "2022-10-04T05:36:11Z")
Dean, I think you succeeded greatly in crafting a great image from what we classically think of “order from chaos.” Of course I wasn’t there, but from what you’ve produced, I would say you did a fabulous job crafting this image from what you saw and experienced in the field - to the final image. Well done! Minor thoughts - someone mentioned a small crop. I might agree shaving some off the top and right to make the yellow leaves more centered (and a case study when it’s OK to have your subject centered!) Thanks for your explanation of “your vignette”. I think you’ve processed and presented this image beautifully. I was even going to suggest a vignette - so perhaps you could even take the edges further? (while leaving the reds and yellows as presented.) The more I look at this, the more my imagination wants to take over. I can see this almost as a composite - the bare tree with highlights, sandwiched with one of Dan Kearl’s galactic nebulas… And even not a composite, but literally a bare tree with some fireworks, stars, galaxy or even paint splatter… This is just fascinating the more I look at this. Lon ---
**Author:** ![joaoquintela](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/joaoquintela/32/20552_2.png) [@joaoquintela](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/joaoquintela)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:14am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/7 "2022-10-04T08:14:57Z")
This is very nice Dean, I love what you got here. Sure love the strong contrast . I would try to burn those thin white branches. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/8 "2022-10-04T16:07:19Z")
I like the high contrast processing here to give it a night sky constellation appearance. The sunlit leaves sparkle like the stars in the heavens. My only suggestion is to slightly darken the highlights of the 4 main branches. A really fine image. I like how the tree goes from a strong base to a fine web of branches that sweep around. The sweep on the right also suggests the Milky Way to me. ---
**Author:** ![DeanRoyer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/deanroyer/32/33767_2.png) [@DeanRoyer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/DeanRoyer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/9 "2022-10-05T00:28:34Z")
Thank you @Lon_Overacker . I’ll try out a crop and see what I think. Love your imagination about nebulas, etc! Thank you @joaoquintela and @Igor_Doncov. I’ll try out burning the highlights on the branches as well. ---
**Author:** ![CharlesV](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/charlesv/32/51747_2.png) [@CharlesV](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/CharlesV)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 5:09am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/10 "2022-10-05T05:09:21Z")
Nice image, it works as both an abstract and capture of the beauty of fall. I agree with @joaoquintela about trying to burn some of the branches for even contrast. Thanks for posting, really great image, keeps the eye exploring and also works at a glance. ---
**Author:** ![DeanRoyer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/deanroyer/32/33767_2.png) [@DeanRoyer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/DeanRoyer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 1:08am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/11 "2022-10-07T01:08:06Z")
Thank you @CharlesV . I did follow through on an alternate crop and burning of the highlights and it is a definite improvement! ---
**Author:** ![Kerry\_Gordon](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kerry_gordon/32/5610_2.png) [@Kerry\_Gordon](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kerry_Gordon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/12 "2022-10-07T17:13:33Z")
Dean, I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance earlier to say how much I am enjoying this picture. It really does have the cosmic feel of a constellation forming. You’ve handled the colour and luminance beautifully, though, as others have pointed out, bringing down the highlights on the main branches, would I think enhance an already excellent image. ---
**Author:** ![DeanRoyer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/deanroyer/32/33767_2.png) [@DeanRoyer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/DeanRoyer)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/13 "2022-10-08T01:48:29Z")
No problem, @Kerry_Gordon . I like the cosmic interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Cameron](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ian_cameron/32/583_2.png) [@Ian\_Cameron](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ian_Cameron)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2022, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/14 "2022-10-09T13:05:36Z")
I very much enjoy this picture and I really don’t see anything that jars. I think the title of your picture is very appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![DeanRoyer](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/deanroyer/32/33767_2.png) [@DeanRoyer](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/DeanRoyer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/fire-out-of-darkness/30746/15 "2022-10-12T03:26:20Z")
Thank you, Ian.